Carlton Blues

The Carlton Football Club, also known as the Blues, is one of the oldest Australian rules clubs as it was the third team to be established. They’re well established and the holders of a few different footy records. This includes the first Victorian Football Association Premiership winners and one of two teams that has won the most Premierships in VFL/AFL history.

History

First established in 1864, the Carlton Blues represented the inner Melbourne suburb of Carlton. The team was a success from the start as they immediately drew in a large fan base and shared a fierce rivalry with the Melbourne Demons. The team joined the VFL in 1897, though it wasn’t until 1906 that they began to heavily dominate the league. They became the first club to appear in five consecutive Grand Finals. They also became the first team to win three consecutive Premierships. They have also bested the records of 11 out of the 15 other AFL teams in existence.

Unfortunately, when the VFL became the AFL, the Blues suffered. The new league rules and AFL draft severely limited the number of players the Victorian clubs could recruit across Australia. 1995 marked the last Premiership win for the club, and by 2002, the team was plagued by financial losses and on field losing streaks that saw the team go an entire season without posting a win at the home grounds.

2005 marked the beginning of a major turnaround effort for the Carlton Blues. Unfortunately, all did not go as planned. They finished at the bottom of the AFL ladder for the second time in the team’s history and took home the Wooden Spoon award. This was repeated in 2006. 2007 saw marked improvement for the team thanks to an almost entirely new head office. They finished their home and away season with a 10-12 record. Since, the team has continued to rebuild.

Emblem, Colours & Guernseys

The Carlton Blues’ emblem is a white monogram of the club’s name CFC (Carlton Football Club). The team’s colour is navy blue.

The Carlton Blues’ home guernsey is completely navy blue with the club’s monogram emblem on the front. The shorts are navy blue as well. The clash (away) guernsey is almost completely white with blue lines down the sides. The shorts are white.

Football Club

The Blues have two home grounds: Etihad Stadium (56,349 capacity) and Melbourne Cricket Ground (100,000 capacity). The team holds many of their open training sessions at Visy Park, which are open for the public to attend.

The Blues boast a fan base that spreads right across Australia, with over 35,000 registered members. Becoming a member of the club not only shows that you’re a true Carlton fan, but also gives you access to a few exclusive member perks. This includes reserved or general admission seating (depends on your membership package) at many of the home fixtures, shop discounts, weekly club emails, access to Club Room on Match Days, access to purchase Grand Finals tickets, and member merchandise. They offer several different membership packages to suit all budget sizes.

Mascot

Captain Carlton is the team’s mascot. He’s a ripped super hero decked out in a navy blue spandex suit with the team’s emblem proudly emblazoned on his chest.

Best Bet to Make

The rebuilding of the Carlton team has paid off in the 2010 season as the Blues are currently sitting in the number seven spot on the AFL ladder. This makes them an excellent selection for a Top 8 bet. The Top 4 is likely not in the cards for the team this season, as is the Wooden Spoon. Punters who back the Blues to win at their home fixtures will certain reap the rewards of substantial payouts, as the Blues are known to pull out all the stops on the home grounds. This is particularly true when they’re playing rivals such as the Melbourne Demons. There’s no better place to bet on AFL fixtures than Ladbrokes.com.au. They’re offering the best odds available and offer all new members a free bet worth $100.